them with the three large format LCD displays," he said. "We also replace a number of legacy components and sensors with new units."
He added that one change all Fusion King Airs will get is the elimination of the
pedestal-mounted FMS CDU and the placement of the FMS information onto the
Fusion displays themselves. So all FMS and graphical flight planning is now done
via touchscreen.
"Part of the Fusion philosophy is heads-up, eyes-forward," Bernstein said. "If
you're looking down at the FMS or other controls, you're not flying the airplane -
the airplane is flying you. That's not a good place to be.
"We want you looking ahead so you can put the FMS display on your MFD or
PFD - it's up to the likes of each pilot. With Fusion, you can easily customize the
layout of each of the three displays to fit your needs. That's another nice benefit of
our software-based architecture."
Bernstein said that besides making the installation as easy as possible, another
reason Rockwell Collins went with the minimalistic approach was to retain as much
cockpit familiarity as possible for pilots.
He explained that one major legacy system remaining unchanged is the APS-65
autopilot, and the decision was made for a couple of reasons.
"It's an extremely robust and reliable autopilot, and pilots are comfortable with their
operation," Bernstein said. "Also, keeping the APS-65 greatly reduces the cost and
complexity of the upgrade. Again, we didn't change things just for the sake of change."
Everything old is sometimes new
Bernstein stressed that while the Fusion STCs (there are two separate STCs) for Pro
Line 2- and Pro Line 21-equipped King Airs include keeping some of the aircraft's
original avionics, a good percentage is replaced with new-generation hardware and
software to meet emerging requirements, including ADS-B Out.
"We do replace key systems and components that will help improve the performance
of the aircraft in today's airspace," he said. "For example, for the Pro Line 2 upgrade,
we put in two new AHARS units. That's nice because they are now all solid-state with
no moving parts. We also put in a new GPS 4000S unit that enables LPV and GPS approaches. It's also WAAS qualified for all airspace and mandates."
One optional upgrade the majority of King Air owners may desire is the elimination of all those annoying annunciator buttons that currently live on the glare shield.
Bernstein said the option is to remove all those lights and put all the information into
the Crew Alerting System on the MFD.
Pro Line Fusion: Coming soon to a King Air cockpit near you
So what does all this mean for an avionics shop owner? Well, that's up to them. But
with all the thousands of King Airs in service today, you figure there's a great opportunity to bring some significant business into the shop.
As to when and who will be able to offer the Fusion integrated avionics upgrade to
their King Air customers, Bernstein said the STC for the Pro Line 2 to Fusion upgrade
is close to being approved.
"Once we have it done, we will make the STC available to all Rockwell Collins
dealers," he said. "As for the STC for the Pro Line 21 to Fusion upgrade, that one is
currently only available through Textron Aviation facilities.
"We feel the typical upgrade installation can be completed in about six weeks or less.
We've been extremely encouraged by the levels of interest we've received in the Fusion
upgrade for King Airs. I think pilots are going to enjoy flying with it."
For more information, visit www.rockwellcollins.com/prolinefusion-kingair. q
FlightSafety will
equip its new King
Air 350 with Rockwell
Collins Fusion
touchscreen avionics
FlightSafety International
recently announced it is building
a new FS1000 full-motion flight
simulator for the King Air 350,
and it will be equipped with
Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion
touchscreen integrated avionics
system.
"FlightSafety is pleased to
increase the support we provide
owners and operators of King Air
aircraft," said Steve Gross, vice
president of sales. "Building a
King Air 350 simulator equipped
with the Pro Line Fusion
avionics system demonstrates
FlightSafety's commitment to
respond to the changing needs of
our customers."
The new FS1000 King Air
350 simulator will feature
tightly integrated computer
hardware and software across
subsystems, which will allow
for more accurate and higherfidelity simulation. The simulator
also will be equipped with
FlightSafety's VITAL 1100 visual
system and electric motion
control and cueing.
According to the company,
the new Level D simulator is
expected to enter service early
next year at FSI's Learning Center
in Atlanta.
Along with the state-ofthe-art simulator, King Air
350 owner/operators also will
benefit from FlightSafety's new
Operational DayFlow training
methodology. This innovative,
highly customized training
system transforms ground school
by presenting critical procedures
and tasks according to the
particular phase of flight. q
AVIONICS NEWS
*
NOVEMBER
2015
21

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